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United States Patent |
5,274,731
|
White
|
December 28, 1993
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Optical fiber cabinet
Abstract
An optical fiber cabinet for enclosing various optical fiber connections
and/or terminations. The optical fiber cabinet includes a frame which
defines an optical fiber connection-termination area with the frame
including a base having a bottom opening, vertical support members, and a
removable upper frame member. Clam-shell doors are rotatably attached to
the vertical support members of the frame and have a closed and open
position. In the closed position, the clam-shell doors cooperate with the
frame to enclose the optical fiber connection-termination area. In the
open position, the clam-shell doors are disposed away from the optical
fiber connection-termination area to allow both horizontal and vertical
access to the optical fiber connection-termination area. A connection box
within which the optical fiber connections are mounted is disposed within
the optical fiber connection-termination area of the cabinet and includes
a door rotatable between a closed and open position. The vertical support
members of the cabinet are sized such that the connection box door is
permitted to rotate substantially more than 90.degree. between the closed
and open positions when the clam-shell doors are in the open position.
Inventors:
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White; Stephen D. (Eden Prairie, MN)
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Assignee:
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ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)
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Appl. No.:
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996708 |
Filed:
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December 24, 1992 |
Current U.S. Class: |
385/135; 385/134; 385/137; 385/139 |
Intern'l Class: |
G02B 006/00; G02B 006/36 |
Field of Search: |
385/134,135,136,137,140
206/316.1,557,558,561,565
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4776662 | Oct., 1988 | Valleix | 385/137.
|
4792203 | Dec., 1988 | Nelson et al. | 385/135.
|
4824196 | Apr., 1989 | Bylander | 385/134.
|
4840449 | Jun., 1989 | Ghandeharizadeh | 385/135.
|
4898448 | Feb., 1990 | Cooper | 385/135.
|
4941720 | Jul., 1990 | Barwig et al. | 385/135.
|
5024498 | Jun., 1991 | Becker et al. | 385/134.
|
5109467 | Apr., 1992 | Hogan et al. | 385/135.
|
5127082 | Jun., 1992 | Below et al. | 385/135.
|
5142607 | Aug., 1992 | Petrotta et al. | 385/135.
|
5189723 | Feb., 1993 | Johnson et al. | 385/134.
|
Other References
Brochure for AT&T.TM. 41-Type Lightguide Interconnect Cabinet (LIC), 1989.
Brochure for Reliance Comm/Tec.TM. Fiber Optic Products, 1991.
|
Primary Examiner: Healy; Brian
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant, Gould, Smith, Edell, Welter & Schmidt
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An optical fiber cabinet for enclosing a plurality of optical fiber
connections and terminations, said cabinet comprising:
a frame defining an optical fiber connection-termination area, said frame
including at least two vertical support members, a removable upper frame
member releasably secured to the vertical support members, and a base
having a bottom opening;
a plurality of clamshell doors attached to said vertical support members
and having a closed position wherein said doors cooperate with said frame
to enclose the optical fiber connection-termination area and an open
position wherein said doors are disposed away from said optical fiber
connection-termination area to allow vertical and horizontal access to
said optical fiber connection-termination area; and
means for rotating said doors between said closed position and said open
position.
2. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said optical fiber
cabinet includes a connection box disposed within said optical fiber
connection-termination area such that said plurality of optical fiber
connections and terminations are mounted with said box, said connection
box includes a frame, at least one door, and at least one pivot connection
wherein the door is attached to the frame through the pivot connection for
rotation between a closed position and an open position.
3. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 2 wherein said vertical
support members of the cabinet frame have a first width and said
connection box frame has a second width such that said first width is less
than said second width wherein said box door is permitted to rotate about
said box pivot connection to a position substantially outside said optical
fiber connection-termination area when said clam-shell doors are in the
open position.
4. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 3 wherein said connection
box door is permitted to rotate substantially more than 90 degrees between
said closed and open positions when said clam-shell doors are in the open
position.
5. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 3 wherein said connection
box is sized to pass within said vertical support members when said
removable upper frame member is removed.
6. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said cabinet
includes means for securing said clam-shell doors to said frame when the
clam-shell doors are in the closed position.
7. An optical fiber cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said upper frame
member includes door lift brackets which extend outward from the upper
frame member to engage the clam-shell doors when the clam-shell doors are
in the closed position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to optical fiber cabinets. More particularly, the
invention concerns a cabinet for enclosing optical fiber connections
and/or terminations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In optical fiber communications systems, it is necessary to have various
distribution stations where optical fiber cross-connections,
interconnections, and terminations are performed. Often, these
distribution stations are located in the field and it is necessary to
provide a suitable enclosure for housing these distribution stations.
In pending application Ser. No. 07/816,558, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,723 an
optical fiber enclosure is disclosed for underground housing of a
distribution station.
Alternatively, a distribution station may be located above-ground with the
optical fiber cables entering the distribution station from below ground.
As known in the art, prior above-ground distribution stations have been
enclosed by rectangular cabinets having vertical side doors which open to
provide access to the distribution station located inside the cabinet. A
typical cabinet known in the art is the AT&T.TM. 41-type light guide
interconnect cabinet. A problem with these rectangular cabinets concerns
the ability to access the interior of the cabinet when installing,
repairing, or modifying the optical fiber connections located within the
cabinet. These cabinets often only permit access to the interior of the
cabinet from the front and the doors and top cover of the cabinet hinder
the movement of a person working on the optical fiber connections within
the cabinet.
Additionally, the optical fiber connections and/or terminations are often
mounted within a connection box which is disposed within the cabinet. The
connection box often has a hinged door which must be rotated outward to
access the optical fiber connections inside. Typically, the side walls of
a rectangular cabinet will prevent the connection box door from rotating
substantially more than 90 degrees between the closed and open positions
which further limits the accessibility to the optical fiber connections
inside the connection box.
Several cabinets offer improved access to the cabinet by having L-shaped
doors which permit access to the interior of the cabinet from the front
and side. A typical cabinet is the CCPO enclosure manufactured by Reliance
Comm/Tech.TM.. However, these cabinets still have an overhanging top cover
which limits the accessibility of the interior of the cabinet.
An above-ground cabinet is needed for enclosing a distribution station of
optical fiber connections which allows access to substantially the entire
interior of the cabinet. The cabinet also should not hinder the movement
of a person who is working on the optical fiber connections and/or
terminations within the cabinet.
If the optical fiber connections are mounted within a connection box
disposed in the cabinet, the cabinet should allow for rotation of the
connection box door to an open position substantially outside the cabinet
frame. The connection box door should be permitted to rotate substantially
more than 90 degrees between the closed and open positions so that the
connection box door does not inhibit the movement of a person working on
the optical fiber connections within the connection box. The top of the
cabinet should also be removeable to allow for easy insertion, mounting or
removal of the connection box.
Additionally, the cabinet should protect against natural elements (rain,
insects or the like) and preferably would facilitate the runoff of water
from the cabinet to increase the useful life of the cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the preferred embodiment, an optical fiber cabinet is disclosed for
enclosing various optical fiber connections and/or terminations. The
optical fiber cabinet includes a frame which defines an optical fiber
connection-termination area. The frame includes vertical support members,
a removable upper frame member and a base having means for defining a
bottom opening. Clam-shell doors are attached to the vertical support
members of the frame and have a closed and open position. In the closed
position, the clam-shell doors cooperate with the frame to enclose the
optical fiber connection-termination area. In the open position, the
clam-shell doors are disposed away from the optical fiber
connection-distribution area to allow both horizontal and vertical access
to the optical fiber connection-termination area. Additionally, means are
provided for rotating the clam-shell doors between the closed and open
positions.
In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet includes a connection box within
which the optical fiber connections are mounted. The connection box is
disposed within the optical fiber connection-termination area of the
cabinet and includes a door which is rotatable between a closed and open
position. The vertical support members of the cabinet are sized such that
the connection box door is permitted to rotate substantially more than 90
degrees between the closed and open position when the clam-shell doors are
in the open position.
Preferably, the clam-shell doors include a downward sloping upper portion
to facilitate the runoff of water from the cabinet. The clam-shell doors
and frame also preferably include means for sealing the cabinet to prevent
natural elements from entering the cabinet. Additionally, means are
provided for locking the cabinet doors in the closed position.
The above described features and advantages along with various other
advantages and features of novelty are pointed out with particularity in
the claims of the present application which form a part hereof. However,
for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects
obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a
further part of the present application and to the accompanying
descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred optical fiber cabinet with the
clam-shell doors in the closed position.
FIGS. 2 and 2A are a perspective view of the optical fiber cabinet shown in
FIG. 1 with the clam-shell doors in the open position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the optical fiber cabinet shown in FIG. 1
illustrating the mounting of the connection box within the cabinet.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the optical fiber cabinet shown in FIG.
1 with the connection box mounted within the cabinet.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the optical fiber cabinet shown in FIG. 1 with
the clam-shell doors and the connection box doors in the open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, in which similar elements are numbered
identically throughout, a description of a preferred embodiment is
provided. In FIG. 1, a perspective view of a closed optical fiber cabinet
10 is shown. The cabinet 10 is designed to enclose a variety of optical
fiber cross-connections, inter-connections, splices, or terminations. In
practice, the optical fiber cabinet 10 is preferably mounted outdoors,
typically on a mounting block or ground sleeve. The optical fiber cables
are run underground and are routed through an opening in the mounting
block or ground sleeve up through the bottom of the cabinet 10 for
mounting within the cabinet where the optical fiber splicing connections
are performed.
The optical fiber cabinet includes a frame 20 defining an optical fiber
connection-termination area 22. The frame 20 includes vertical support
members 24, a removable upper frame member 26, and a base 28 having a
bottom opening 30. A pair of clam-shell doors 40 are attached to each side
of the vertical support members 24 through hinges 32. Referring to FIG. 5,
the cabinet is generally symmetrical about a central axis 34 which runs
between the vertical support members. Thus, the description of the
features relating to a single clam-shell door is applicable to all of the
clam-shell doors.
In the closed position as shown in FIG. 1, the clam-shell doors 40 are
disposed such that the exterior edges of the doors 40 cooperate with the
frame 20 to enclose the optical fiber connection-termination area 22. It
will be appreciated that the adjacent edges of the frame and doors include
appropriate channels 48 and gaskets 49 to seal the cabinet to prevent
rain, insects and the like from entering the cabinet. Preferably, the
upper portion 42 of each door slopes downward to facilitate the run-off of
rain to increase the useful life of the cabinet 10.
The optical fiber cabinet 10 includes a mechanism for locking the
clam-shell doors in the closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the
locking mechanism 50 includes an upper and lower spring latch 52, 53 which
is secured to each of the clam-shell doors 40 and corresponding latch
catch members 54 which are secured to the upper frame member 26 and the
bottom base 28. The upper spring latches 52 are mounted on latch brackets
56 which in turn are disposed on the upper portion 42 of each door 40.
When the clam-shell doors 40 are in their closed position, the spring
latches 52, 53 are disposed adjacent a corresponding latch catch member
54. To lock the door, the spring latch 52 which includes a cam member is
rotated 1/4 turn so that the cam member is rotated from a horizontal
position to a vertical position. In this vertical position, the cam member
engages the latch catch member 54 to lock the door 40 in place. The latch
52 includes a spring which serves to bias the cam member against the latch
catch member to more firmly lock the door. It will be appreciated that
various other types of latching mechanisms may be used to lock the
clam-shell doors to the frame.
In the preferred embodiment, the optical fiber cabinet 10 includes door
lift brackets 60 which are attached to the upper frame member 26. The door
lift brackets 60 are positioned near the center of the upper frame member
26 and extend outward from the upper frame member 26 for engagement with
the upper portion 42 of the clam-shell doors 40 when the doors are in the
closed position. In this closed position, the door lift brackets 60
provide additional support for the doors 40 and ensure that the door and
spring latches 52, 53 are in correct alignment with the latch catch
members of the frame.
Pursuant to another feature of the invention, the clam-shell doors 40 open
to an extended position to provide access to substantially the entire
interior of the cabinet 10. As shown in FIG. 2, each clam-shell door 40 is
rotatable through a hinge 32 to a position substantially away from the
optical fiber connection-termination area 22. A doorstop 62 is attached
between the bottom base 28 and inside of the clam-shell door 40 to limit
the extension of the door. The doorstop 62 is hinged to allow the doorstop
to fold together as a clam-shell door 40 is closed. It will be appreciated
that in this open position, the optical fiber connection-termination area
22 in the interior of the cabinet 10 is readily accessible from nearly any
orientation.
Another feature providing additional access to the cabinet 10 is the
removable upper frame member 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper frame
member is attached between the vertical support members 24. Preferably,
the upper ends of the vertical support members 24 include frame assembly
brackets 64 for bolting the upper frame member 26 to the vertical support
members 24. This permits the upper frame member 26 to be easily removed to
allow greater access to the interior of the cabinet 10.
Referring to FIG. 3, a rain cover 70 is preferably provided to further
shield the cabinet. The rain cover is attached to the top of the upper
frame member 26 and includes openings 72 appropriately spaced to allow the
spring latches 52 of the clam-shell doors 40 to engage the latch catch
members 54.
The optical fiber cabinet 10 may accommodate a wide range of mounting
assemblies in which various optical fiber splicing and terminating
operations such as interconnecting and crossconnecting are performed. In a
preferred embodiment, a connection box 80 which houses the optical fiber
connections is provided for placement within the optical fiber
connection-termination area of the cabinet. Referring to FIG. 3, the
connection box 80 has a generally rectangular frame 82 and includes front
and rear doors 84, 86 which are rotatable between a closed and open
position. The doors 84, 86 are mounted to the frame 82 of the connection
box 80 through hinges 88 and numerous latches 90 are provided to secure
the doors to the frame 82. The bottom of the connection box 80 includes
appropriate openings to permit the optical fiber cables to pass through
into the interior of the connection box where the various optical fiber
splicing operations are performed.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection box 80 is sized to fit within the
optical fiber connection-termination area 22 of the cabinet 10 between the
vertical support members 24 of the frame 20. Appropriate mounting brackets
92 are attached to the connection box 80 and the vertical support members
24 to securely mount the connection box within the cabinet 10.
It will be appreciated that when the connection box 80 is disposed within
the cabinet 10, the ability of the clam-shell doors 40 to rotate to an
extended open position allows for greater accessibility to the connection
box 80. A person wishing to repair or modify the connections inside the
connection box 80 is not hindered by the cabinet doors 40 and can more
efficiently complete the work required on the optical fiber connections
within the box.
In a preferred embodiment, the connection box 80 and vertical support
members 24 of the cabinet 10 are sized to allow the doors 84, 86 of the
connection box to rotate to an open position substantially away from the
optical fiber connection-termination area 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the
width (A) of the connection box is greater than the width (B) of the
vertical support members. This positions the pivot points 44 of the
clam-shell doors closer to a central axis 34 of the cabinet than the pivot
points 94 of the connection box doors 84, 86. With this alignment, the
connection box doors 84, 86 are permitted to rotate substantially more
than 90.degree. from the closed position to an open position when the
clam-shell doors 40 are in the open position, as shown in FIG. 5. With the
doors 84, 86 of the connection box 80 able to rotate substantially beyond
90.degree. to the open position, the interior of the connection box is
easily accessible for a person working on the optical fiber connections
within the box. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the clam-shell doors 40
are in the open position, a person wishing to work on the optical fiber
connections is permitted both vertical and horizontal access to the
connection box 80 so that the latches 90 on the connection box 80 are
readily accessible.
It will be appreciated that the connection box 80 may be preassembled with
the various optical fiber splice connections/terminations mounted in the
box 80 at a location remote from the cabinet. In such a case, the
connection box 80 containing the optical fiber connections and having the
optical fiber cables extending from the bottom of the box may then be
transported to the location of the cabinet 10 for mounting within the
cabinet. In such an operation, the clam-shell doors 40 of the cabinet are
extended to the open position and the upper frame member 26 is removed.
The connection box 80 is then lowered into the cabinet 10 with the fiber
cables being routed through the bottom of the cabinet. The connection box
80 is mounted to the vertical support members 24 and then the upper frame
member 26 is reattached to the vertical support members 24 to reassemble
the cabinet. Throughout this process of mounting a presassembled
connection box 80 in the cabinet 10, the clam-shell doors 40 are disposed
substantially away from the interior of the cabinet and thus the doors 40
do not hinder the movement of the workers mounting the connection box 80
within the cabinet. This allows for a more efficient installation of a
connection box within an optical fiber cabinet.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cabinet preferably includes support brackets 96
for lifting the cabinet. These lifting U-bolts 96 are secured to the upper
exterior surface of each vertical support member 24 and facilitate easy
lifting of the cabinet when the cabinet is installed in the field.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and
advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set
forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the
structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this
disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail,
especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts, within the
principles of the present invention, to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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